Metal-cutting apparatus



Jan. 8,1929. 1,698,173

' H. B. ROYER METAL CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1925 Y 5 Sheets-Shet1 Q I INVENTOR.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

WORNEYS.

Jan. 8, 1929.

H. B. ROYER METAL CUTTING APPARATUS Filed'Nov. 7, 1925 v BY IJhn.8,1929.

METAL CUTTING APPARATUS H. B. ROYER Filed Nov. '7, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3i F I o, a wo v m I h :05:

3 f N a (f E I v f I n N; u i 2 0: i q) I a 1 Q a W J IN V EN TOR.

Jan. s,- 1929.

1,698,173 H. B. ROYER METAL CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1925 5Sheets-sheaf. 5

w 7 51 TOR.

Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

may 28. Roma, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

METAL-CUTTING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 7, 1925. Serial No. 67,500.

This invention relates to devices for cutting metal by means of thelocal application of intense heat, as for instance, by means ofoxyacetylene torches of usual construction.

It is an object of this invention to provide means by which such torchesmay be held and moved with respect to the work, and by which thepositioning and movement of said torches may be conveniently adjustedand controlled, and by means of which the operation of the apparatus maybe suitably varied for cutting objects of different shapes.

Other objects and advantages of the. invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes ofillustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, shown in position forcutting an I beam,

Figure 2 is a top plan view,

Figure 3 is a front elevation showing the parts in position for cuttingan I beam of different shape,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figures 6 and 7 are left and right end'elevations respectively,

Figure 8 is an enlar ed detail view showing the wedges for re easing thevertically moving torches,

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 5 showingthe automatic release for the horizontally moving torch,

Figure 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Figure 7 I Referring to thedrawings, it Will be observed from Figures 1 and 3 that the apparatus isof a semi-portable type adapted to be placed inposition on the work tobe cut and to be supported thereby during the cutting operation.

The apparatus is supported on the work by the wheels 1 which may beconveniently mounted by means of stub shafts on the frames 2 and 2,located on either side of the apparatus. The frames 2 and 2 are mountedfor longitudinal sliding movement on the main frame 3 and are providedwith tapered gibs 4 which cooperate with beveled edges 5 of the mainframe 3 to permit sliding movement thereon.

said shaft having right and left-hand threads Mounted on the main frame,3 is a shaft 6 carrying an adjusting wheel 7,-

-cooperating with the interiorly threaded bosses 8 and 8' carried by theframes 2 and 2' respectively in such manner that rotationof theadjusting. wheel 7 causes the frames 2 and 2 to move togetheror moveaway from each other simultaneously in order that the distancetherebetween may be adjusted as desired for use with work of differentwidths.

Also mounted on themain frame 3 'is a power unit, as forexample, aconstant speed electric motor 9 which drives a shaft 10 mounted in gearbox 11, said gear box being formed integrally with or mounted upon themainframe 3. The shaft 10 carries the worm 12 which meshes with the gear13 mounted on the counter-shaft 14. Also mounted on through the beveledgears 21 and 22, fixed to their respective shafts.

As will be observed, by moving the arm 17 carrying the idler gear 16 bymeans of the handle 23 to cause said gear to mesh with various of thegears 15, different rates of rotation may be imparted to the shaft 20.If desired, the handle 23 may be provided with a spring pressed latch 24to engage the notches 25 formed in the gear box cover to hold the gearsin engagement except when it is desired to shift them.

The shaft 20 extends longitudinally of the main frame and has mounted onthe end thereofthe gear 26 which meshes with a gear 27 fixed to theshaft 28 to. rotate the same for a purpose hereinafter described.

Also splined to the shaft 28 is a gear 29 which meshes with an idlergear 30 carried on the arm 31 pivotally and slidably mounted on theshaft 28. The idler gear 30 meshes with a second idler gear 32 alsocarried on the arm 31, which gear is adapted to mesh with any oneof aseries of gears 33 of varying sizes mounted on the shaft 34, said gearsall being enclosed within the gear box 38. Shaft 34extends-longitudinally across the apparatus and has splined theretobeveled gears 35 and 35 carried by frames 2 and 2 meshing with beveledgears 36 and 36' mounted respectively on the threaded vertical shafts 37and 37'.

Mounted on the frames 2 and 2 are vertical standards 39 and 39' on whichthe torch holders 10 and 40 are adapted to slide vertically, it beingunderstood that the torch holders are provided with means suitable forengaging and holding torches of whatever type it is desired to use incutting. On each of the torch holders are pivotally mounted a pair ofarms 41 and 11' having internal threads adapted to engage the threads ofshafts 37 and 37 so that rotation of the shafts 37 and 37 will causevertical travel of the torches. As will be observed, the arms may bespread apart bythe operator if desired in order that the torches may belifted or lowered to any desired height.

From the foregoing description it will be .apparent that the verticallymoving torches may be driven at a uniform speed to simultaneously cutthe flanges of the beam and that the rate at which such cutting takesplace may be suitably controlled and varied by proper operation of thegear mechanisms within gear boxes 10 and 38. For instance, by moving thehandle 23 to cause the idler gear 16 to mesh with various of the gears15, four different rates of speed may be imparted to the shaft 18, andthus, driving through the intervening shafts and gears, the shafts 37and 37 may be rotated at four different speeds to thereby cause verticaltravel of the torches at four different speeds. In addition, by movingthe handle 42 at the end of arm 31 to cause the gear 32 to meslrwithvarious of the gears 33 the rate of travel of the torches may be variedfour times for each setting of the handle 23, so that in the presentembodiment, the vertically moving torches may conceivably be caused totravel at sixteen different rates of speed. In actual practice, however,the gear ratios may be such that different gear settings of the two setsof gears may result in the same rate of travel by the torches, so thatonly ten or twelve actually difi'erent speeds may result. If desired,the handle 42 may also be provided with a spring pressed latch 43 toengage the notches 4A of the gear box casing tonormally hold the gearsin fixed position.

Mounted on the under side of the main fram 3 is a slide which may besecured in sliding relation thereto by means of the tapered gibs 51cooperating with beveled edges 5 of the main frame previously described.The slide 50 is provided with a vertically disposed portion providedwith beveled edges 52 which. cooperate with tapered gibs 53 formed inthe holder 54 for carrying a horizontally moving torch. The slide 50 isalso provided with a threaded shaft 55 engaging an internally threadedportion of the holder 54 by means of which the holder 54: and thehorizontally moving torch may be adjusted vertically with respect to thework by proper manipulation of the handle 57.

Also mounted on the slide 50 are a pair of bosses 58 in which ispivotally mounted a threaded split nut 60 for cooperation with the screwthread 61 formed in the shaft 28 previouslyreferred to. As will beobserved, when-the shaft 28 is rotating and the split nut 60 is inengagement with the screw thread 61, the slide 50 and the torch carriedthereby will be caused to travel horizontally across the work at auniform speed. As has been de? scribed previously, however, the speed ofrotation of the shaft 28 may be varied by proper manipulation of thehandle 23 so that the horizontally moving torch may be caused to travelat fourdiiferent rates of speed.

It may be desirable, in order to prevent damage to the apparatus, toprovide means for automatically releasing the torches from theirrespective drive shafts when they reach the end of their travel. In theparticular em-' bodiment illustrated herein, in the case of thevertically moving torches, wedges 65 and 65 are mounted on the frames 2and 2' in position to engage the pivoted arms 41, 11' in order to spreadthem apart to disengage the shafts 37 and 37 when the torches approachthe upper limit of their travel. If desired, the flat springs 41 may beprovided to frictionally engage the arms 41 and 41 to hold them apartafter separation until moved by the operation to again engage shafts 37and 37.

In the case of the horizontally moving torch, a trigger 66 is providedwhich is pivotally mounted on the bosses 67 carried by the slide50. Thetrigger 66 has formed integrally therewith the arm 68 which engages theplunger 69 which in turn engages the split nut 60 previously described.As will be observed, as the slide 50 travels horizontally from right toleft the end of the trigger 66 will engage the flange of the work onwhich the apparatus is supported, and such engagement will cause the arm68 to swing upwardly to raise the plunger 69' and the split nut 60 tocause disengagement from the shaft-28, thus stopping the travel of thehorizontal torch. If desired, the trigger 66 may be provided with theset screw 70 in order that the apparatus may be adjusted to stop at thedesired point.

In operation, the apparatus is adjusted by rotation of the adjustingwheel 7 to separate the frames 2 and 2 to a suitable width forengagement with the work by the rollers 1 as illustrated in Figures 1and 3. The apparatus may then be moved on the rollers 1 to the point atwhich it is desired. to cut the work. The two sets of gears provided maythen be adjusted by proper manipulation of the handles 23 and 42 toprovide the proper relative rates of travel for the horizontally andverticall moving torches, the proper rates be1n etermined by the specialcharacteristics of the particular work being cut. In ordinary operationthis rate of travel should be such as toprovide a clean cut through themetal across the entire section who cut. As will be observed, theadjustment of the frames 2 and 2' by movement of the wheel 7 places theoutside torches in proper relation to the Work for cutting. Thehorizontal torch, however, may be adjusted vertically by means of thehandle 57.

After starting the electric motor 9, the torch holders 40 and 40 may beadjusted vertically to bring the torches, into proper starting positionwith respect to the work, and the arms 41 and 41 may be moved intoengagement with the shafts 37 and 37' to cause vertical movement of thetorches. Likewise the slide may be moved to position the horizontaltorch for cutting and the split nut (SO-may bepermitted to engage theshaft 28 to cause horizontal travel of the torch. Whenever the torchesreach the end of their proper travel, the wedge and trigger mech anism66 previously described automatically disengage the arms 41,41 and splitnut 60 from their respective drive shafts to thereby prevent furthertravel.

It will be observed that once the apparatus has been properly set forcutting it may be used continuously for cutting the same shape withoutany other adjustment than that necessary to position the torches at thebeginning of their travel. It will also be observed that due to the factthat the torches are power driven, an even rate of travel is securedwhich tends to result in more regular cutting than would be the casewere the torches moved manually.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously} modified andembodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for cutting metals, means for holding a plurality oftorches in position for cutting, and power driven means for causing saidtorches to travel across the work at relatively different rates ofspeed.

I 2. In an apparatus for cutting metals, means for holding a pluralityof torches'in position-for cuttinggpower driven means for causing saidtorches to travel across the work at relatively different rates ofspeed, and means for changing the-respective rates of travel of thetorches. I 1

3. In an apparatus for cutting metals, means for holding a plurality oftorches in position for cuttin a power unit operating at a constantspect, means for driving said torches from said unit at relativelydifferent rates of speed, and means forvarying the speed of said torchesrelative to said unit and relative to each other.

4. In an ap aratus for cutting metals,

means for holding a pair of oppositely disposed torches in cuttingposition, means for holding another torch in cutting position, and powerdriven means for moving said torches with respect to the work, adaptedto move said pair of torches and said other torch at different rates ofspeed.

5. In an apparatus for cutting metals, means for holding'a pair ofoppositely disposed torches in cuttingposition, means for holdinganother torch in cutting position independently of said oppositelydisposed torches, and means for adjusting each of said torches bothlaterally and vertically with respect to the work.

6. In an apparatus for cutting metals, means for holding a pair ofoppositely disposed torches in cutting position, means for holdinganother torch in cutting position pair of torches and said other torchwith respect to the work and at different relative rates of speed, andmeans for varying said rates of speed. I I

7. In .an apparatus for cutting metals, a power unit, a shaft driventhereby, means for operatively connecting a torch thereto, said torchbeing mounted I for horizontal travel, a second shaft driven by saidpower unit through said first shaft, and means foroperativelylconnecting a torch thereto, said last named torch beingmounted for vertical travel.

8. In an apparatus for cuttin metals, a power unit, a shaft driven therey, means for operatively connecting a torch thereto, said tor'ch beingmounted for horizontal travel, a second shaft driven by said power unitthrough said first shaft, means for o eratively connecting a torchthereto, said last named torch being mountedfor vertical travel,and-variable speed mechanism interposed between said power unit and saidfirst shaft for varying the speed of both said shafts and torches. I

9. In an apparatus for cutting metals, a power unit, a shaft driventhereby, means for operatively connecting a torch thereto, said torchbeing mounted, for horizontal travel, a second shaft driven by saidpower unit through said first shaft, means for operatively connecting atorch thereto,said last named torch being mounted for vertical travel,and variable speed mechanism interposed between said first shaft andsaid 'sec ond shaft for varying the speed of said second shaft and torchrelative to said first shaft and torch.

10. In an apparatus for cutting metals,

torches carried on said frame mounted forvertlcal and horizontalmovement wlth re-' spect thereto, means for adj u'stin said torcheshorizontally with respect to sai frame, andmeans for selectively andprogressively moving said torches vertically with respect to said frame.

12. In an apparatus for cutting metals, a-

mainframe, a pair of frames mounted on said main frame adapted to slidelongitudinally thereon, and provided with rollers for engaging the workto be cut, and manually operated means for simultaneously adjusting saidframes with respect to said main frame to permit said rollers to engagework of different widths.

13. In an apparatus for cutting metals, a main frame, a pair ofoppositely disposed torches carried on said frame mounted for verticaland horizontal movement with respect thereto, manually operated meansfor coordinately adjusting said torches horizontally with respect tosaid frame, and power driven means for causing uniform vertical travelof said torches.

14:. In an apparatus for cutting metals, 0. main frame, a torch mountedfor horizontal travel thereon, power driven means for causing travel ofsaid torch, means engageable by the work being cut to automaticallyrelease said torch from said power driven means when said torch reachesthe end of its travel.

15. In an apparatus for cutting metals, a main frame, a torch mountedfor horizontal travel thereon, a pair of oppositely disposed torchesmounted for vertical travel thereon, power driven means for causingtravel of both said horizontally and vertically moving torches, andmeans 'for'automatically releasing each of said torches from said powerdriven means when said torches reach the end of their travel.

16. In an apparatus for cutting metals in combination, a plurality ofcutting torches cooperating to make a common cut, means to move one ofsaid torches in one direction, and means to move another of said torchesin a direction bearing an angular relation to the direction of movementof said first mentioned torch.

17. In an apparatus for cutting metals in combination, a plurality ofcutting torches, means to moveone of said torches in one direction, andmeans to move another of said torches in a direction bearing an angularrelation to the direction of movement of said first mentioned torch butin a common plane therewith.

, 18. In an apparatus for cutting metals in just the lateral distance ofoperation of said pair of torches, and means to move another of saidtorches located intermediate said pair of torches in a directionintersecting the line of movement of said pair of torches, said lastmentioned means causing the intermediate torch to traverse the distancebetween the pair of torches for any adjusted amount of separation of thesame.

20. In an apparatus for cutting metals in combination, a pluralit ofcutting torches, means to move a latera ly separated pair of saidtorches in one direction, means to move another of said torches locatedintermediate said air of torches in a direction intersecting tieir linesof movement, and means for selectively rendering any one of said movingmeans ineffective.

21. In apparatus for cutting a section through a metal object which insection is formed ofa plurality of elongated portions joined at-anangle,which comprises a frame and a plurality of cutting torches traversablymounted on the frame, there being a' torch for each elongated portiontraversable across such portion in cooperation with the remainingtorches to'complete a single sectional cut.

22. In apparatus for crdss-cutting a bar which in section is formed of aplurality of connected relatively thin portions, which comprises aframe, and a plurality of cutting torches corresponding to the portionsof said bar section mounted on said frame for traverse movement acrossthe portions of the bar with which they are respectively associated.

23. In apparatus for cross-cutting a bar which in section is formed of aplurality of connected relatively thin portions, which com prises aframe, a plurality of cutting torches corresponding to the portions ofsaid bar sec tion mounted on said frame for traverse movement across theportions of the bar with which they are respectively associated, andmeans for simultaneously traversing said torches.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name tothis specification thisfifth day of November, 1925.

HARRY B. ROYER.

